Predictors of quality of life among older patients with cancer during treatment

Holistic framing for improving care provision for older people with chronic diseases in Jordan: a phenomenological study

There is a sharp increase in the number of older people globally. Thus, it is important to adopt strategies to improve the care provided for older people, especially due to the increased prevalence of chronic conditions. However, very little evidence is available on what should be done, especially from the perspective of healthcare professionals responsible for providing care for older people in nursing homes. Thus, this study aimed to explore the opinions of healthcare professionals including nurses and physicians in nursing homes on adopting holistic framing for improving care provision for older people with chronic conditions in Jordan. The study employed a descriptive phenomenological design using semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses and two physicians in Amman governorate in Jordan during the period from June to September 2024. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze data. The findings revealed three overarching themes including: (1) offering dedicated courses and postgraduate programs; (2) improving facilities and resources; and (3) raising awareness and enhancing collaborations. The findings provide a holistic framing for improving healthcare provision for older people with chronic diseases in Jordan.

Association between health-related quality of life and perioperative exercise capacity in older postoperative patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Lung cancer represents a significant global health concern and constitutes the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. Complete surgical resection with curative intent remains the most efficacious treatment modality for improving the survival rate of patients with localized lung cancer. Average life expectancy has increased in many countries, and the number of older patients undergoing surgery has increased. We aimed to evaluate the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during perioperative lung resection and the association between HRQOL and perioperative physical function (PF) in older patients with lung cancer.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted in a single tertiary university hospital. Patients aged ≥70 years who underwent lung resection between 1 April 2013 and 31 December 2020 were included. HRQOL was assessed utilizing the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. PF was evaluated using the handgrip, quadriceps force, and 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) tests preoperatively and 1 week after surgery. We analyzed a model for total HRQOL and each domain of HRQOL scores at different time points using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. A multiple regression analysis was performed to estimate the associations between changes in total HRQOL scores following surgery and clinically relevant factors.

Results

In total, 260 patients (172 with stage IA disease, 162 men; median age, 75 years) were included in the analysis. The median preoperative total HRQOL score was 90.1 points, while the scores at postoperative 1, 3, and 6 months were 81.5, 87.5, and 87.4 points, respectively. The total HRQOL score at baseline and the decline in postoperative 6MWD were significant predictors of the total HRQOL score at each time point.

Conclusions

HRQOL recovered to preoperative levels 3 months after surgery; the 6MWD decrease before and after surgery was associated with HRQOL recovery than other clinically relevant factors. These results suggest the importance of active early mobilization in preventing functional decline during hospitalization and continuing exercise training after discharge.

The Role of Pain Catastrophizing, Emotional Intelligence, and Pain Intensity in the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients with Chronic Pain

Pain catastrophizing (PC) is a negative cognitive distortion to actual or anticipated pain. This study aims to investigate the relationship between pain catastrophizing, emotional intelligence, pain intensity, and quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients with chronic pain. Eighty-nine outpatients with chronic pain attending pain clinics and palliative care units were recruited. Participants were men (42.7%) and women (57.3%) with an average age of 56.44 years (SD = 14.82). Self-report psychological measures were completed, including a measure of emotional intelligence, a standard measure of PC, a scale assessing pain intensity, and a scale measuring QoL. The PC scale was found to assess three correlated yet different dimensions of pain catastrophizing (helplessness, magnification, and rumination). Moreover, as expected, patients with PC scale scores ≥ 30 had lower scores in functional QoL dimensions and higher scores in the fatigue, pain, and insomnia symptom dimensions. Regression analyses demonstrated that PC (B = − 0.391, p = 0.004), pain intensity (B = − 1.133, p < 0.001), and education (B = 2.915, p = 0.017) remained the only significant variables related to QoL, when controlling for demographic and clinical confounders. Regarding mediating effects, PC and pain intensity were jointly found to be significant mediators in the relationship between emotional intelligence and QoL. Results are discussed in the context of the clinical implications regarding interventions designed to improve cancer patients’ quality of life and offer new insight, understanding, and evaluation targets in the field of pain management.

Mindfulness and its Positive Effect on Quality of Life among Chronic Burn Survivors: A descriptive Correlational Study

BACKGROUND

Burns are a global public health phenomenon accounting for 180,000 deaths yearly. Burn wounds were considered among the most devastating injuries worldwide and is the fourth most common type of injury globally. It is also negatively associated with the quality of life of those patients. Improving the quality of life and mindfulness could be helpful in those survivors after burn injury to deal with others. Based on the findings of the study, there remains limited knowledge about the unique role of mindfulness in improving the quality of life of burn survivors. Therefore, this study aims to identify the role of mindfulness in improving the QOL of Jordanian burn survivors.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational design was used to answer the research questions. A convenience sample of 212 participants took part in the study. Participants completed measures regarding the quality of life and mindfulness.

RESULTS

Some demographic and clinical variables were associated with quality of life. The burn-related QOL was significantly and positively correlated with mindfulness (r = .294, p < 0.01). Mindfulness explained a distinctive variance in burn-related quality of life among the study participants.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the role of various factors in the burn-related quality of life among burn survivors. Mindfulness could have an important role in improving the burn-related quality of life among burn survivors.